Best Knob Cutters for Bonsai

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Knob cutters have rounded, spherical jaws that scoop a shallow hollow out of a trunk, which is what you want when removing a stub, an old knuckle, or a lump left behind by a previous cut. They work where the flatter bite of a concave cutter would leave a dip in the wrong shape. What varies is jaw diameter, the depth of the scoop, the steel, and the leverage the handles give you. We weighed cutting force on hard old wood and whether the jaws stayed aligned after repeated heavy use. Sharpening access mattered too, since curved edges are harder to restore than straight ones. Smaller heads suit shohin and detailed cleanup around fine branches. Large heads suit collected trees, thick trunks and reduction work. Growers who mainly refine finished trees rarely need the biggest sizes.